In vivoand phantom measurements versus Eclipse TPS prediction of near surface dose for SBRT treatments

Estimating dose delivery accuracy in stereotactic body radiation therapy: A review of in-vivo measurement methods

Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) has been recognized as a standard treatment option for many anatomical sites. Sophisticated radiation therapy techniques have been developed for carrying out these treatments and new quality assurance (QA) programs are therefore required to guarantee high geometrical and dosimetric accuracy. This paper focuses on recent advances on in-vivo measurements methods (IVM) for SBRT treatment. More specifically, all of the online QA methods for estimating the effective dose delivered to patients were compared. Determining the optimal IVM for performing SBRT treatments would reduce the risk of errors that could jeopardize treatment outcome. A total of 89 papers were included. The papers were subdivided into the following topics: point dosimeters (PD), transmission detectors (TD), log file analysis (LFA), electronic portal imaging device dosimetry (EPID), dose accumulation methods (DAM). The detectability capability of the main IVM detectors/devices were evaluated. All of the systems have some limitations: PD has no spatial data, EPID has limited sensitivity towards set-up errors and intra-fraction motion in some anatomical sites, TD is insensitive towards patient related errors, LFA is not an independent measure, DAMs are not always based on measures. In order to minimize errors in SBRT dose delivery, we recommend using synergic combinations of two or more of the systems described in our review: on-line tumor position and patient information should be combined with MLC position and linac output detection accuracy. In this way the effects of SBRT dose delivery errors will be reduced.

Dosimetric effects of a repositioning head frame system and treatment planning system dose calculation accuracy

This work aims to study the effect on surface dose and dose distribution caused by the Elekta Fraxion cranial immobilization system. The effect of Fraxion inclusion in Elekta Monaco treatment planning system and its calculation accuracy is also checked. To study the dose attenuation, a cylindrical phantom was located over the Elekta Fraxion with an IBA CC13 ionization chamber placed in the central insert at the linac isocenter. Dose measurements at multiple gantry angles were performed for three open fields, 10 × 10 cm, 5 × 5 cm and other smaller 2 × 2 cm. Measured doses were compared with the ones calculated by Monaco. Surface dose and dose distribution in the buildup region were measured placing several Gafchromic Films EBT3 at linac CAX between the slabs of a RW3 phantom located over Fraxion and read using FilmQA Pro software. Measures were performed for two open field sizes and results were compared with Monaco calculations. Measurements show a 1% attenuation for 180° gantry angle but it can be as high as 3.4% (5 × 5 open field) for 150°/210° gantry angle, as with these angles the beam goes through the Fraxion's headrest twice. If Fraxion is not included in the calculation Monaco calculation can result in a 3% difference between measured and calculated doses, while with Fraxion in the calculation, the maximum difference is 0.9%. Fraxion increases 3.7 times the surface dose, which can be calculated by Monaco with a difference lower than 2%. Monaco also calculated correctly the PDD for both open fields (2%) when Fraxion is included in the calculation. This work shows that the attenuation varies with gantry angle. The inclusion of Fraxion in Monaco improves the calculation from 3% difference to 1% in the worst case. Furthermore, the surface dose increment and the dose in the buildup region are correctly calculated.